Ancient Wisdom (Liz Morris)

“We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. However, as it is written: ‘What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived—the things God has prepared for those who love him— these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.’”

 1 Corinthians 2:6-10

 

Paul knew that the gospel message that had transformed him was completely counter cultural to the Roman way of life and much of his letters were trying to help the early Christians wrestle with the issues this caused. He could see past the rulers and the wisdom of the age and instead looked to God’s wisdom. He served an ancient God whose ancient wisdom dwells in us through the Holy Spirit enabling us to be transformed by the gospel message which is also counter cultural to our society today.

 

 Paul opens this chapter to the Corinthians stating, ‘I did not come with human eloquence or human wisdom…so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power’. Even with the extensive knowledge of scripture that he had at his disposal, and the powerful revelation of Jesus that he had experienced, he knew to not lean on his human wisdom and made sure to point the early Christians past his own attributes to the Ancient of Days.

 

Let’s pray - Heavenly Father, we thank you that we have access to your wisdom that no eye has seen, no ear has heard or mind conceived, yet you reveal it to us by your Spirit. Help us oh Ancient of Days, to walk in your wisdom and not the wisdom of this age. Amen

Liz Morris